Carpet cleaner



Aug. 30,1927. 1,641,063

, S. M. BLANCH ET AL CARPET CLEANER Filed Deo'. 1, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 1,641,063 ug- 30 1927 s. M. BLANCH ET AI- CARPET CLEANER Filed Dec. 1 w22 z sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 30, 1927. i j

UNITE-D STATES SVEN-MALCOLM BLANCH AND FRANK Ji QUIST, 0F WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CARPET` CLEANER.

Application filed December 1, 1922. Serial No. 604,142.

This invention relates to a carpet cleaner of the pneumatic brush variety and the principal objects thereof are to provide means for supporting the brush in Such a way as to prevent the accumulation of threads and lint at the bearings thereof and facilitate its removal and replacement; to provide an improved way of driving the ,brush and connecting and disconnecting the power; vto provide animproved arrangement for supporting the rollers and locating them m such position that they will act to hold .the carpet down between the two edges of the nozzle and ata `point equally distant therefrom so as to provide for more even extraction of the dust fromv the carpet and prevent the clinging of the carpet to the nozzle; to provide improved means for adjusting the height of the nozzle; to provide improvements in the means for holding the carpet down between the edges of the nozzle all the way across the same and to provide these features in a form in which they cooperate with'each other to improve the efficiency of the device.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying` drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side View of a carpet cleaner with a preferred form ofthe present iin-- provements applied thereto; v

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the clutch for connecting the brush with the'power;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of-thevnozzle and slome connected parts; A i

Fig. 5 is a similar view with the brush and its yshaft removed showing the `way of mounting the latter;

Fig. 6 is asimilar view of the brush and the parts that can be removed with it;

Fi s. 7 and 8 are two sectional. views on l the line 7-8 of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 showing the brush and its connected parts removed 'from the nozzle, and Fig. 8 showingthem in their operative position; ,I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged `sectional view on the line 9-9of Fig. V i

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of a partof the nozzle showing the means for adjustingits elevation; and Fig. 11 is a perspectivevlew. of the box lfor holding the bearings.

lVe have vshown the invention as `applled to that type of suction carpet cleaners -in which an electric motor is-mountedin a casing 10 and is geared to operate the brush which is located in the nozzle 11 fixed to the casing, the rear `of the casing 10 being supported by a roller 12. The handle 13 forv operating it and the dust bag 14 are indicated in Fig. 1 but do notconstitute features clutchl is operated by an oscillatory rod 18v vhaving an eccent-rically mounted pin 19 on the end engaging in the groove in the clutch and adapted to move the clutch up and down as the rod is swung. On the rear end of the rod is fixed an arm 20 for operating it. This permits of the running of the rod 18 through the rear of the machine under the casing 10 and placing the arm 20.in a position onfthe rear where it is convenient for the operatorjto handle. This arm swings in a vertical plane and the casing is provided with a spring member 21 having depressions at its ends for receiving its end and holding it either in on or ,oif position. These parts are all located in aspace under the casing and at its rear which otherwise would not be utilized and consequently they are out. of the way and are not in a position to be injured by contact with furniture or the like. The motor of course also drives a suction fan or blower communicating with the nozzle. A detachable sheetmetal casing 27 is provided for covering the clutch.

The pulley 16 is provided With a round rubber belt 22 preferably and this passes ove-r a'pulley 23 on the brush shaft 24. Both the pulleys 16 and 23 are grooved in the form shown for receiving this belt. The pulley 23 is fixed positively to the brush shaft at the center thereof and islocated inside a box 25 consisting of ytwo end walls 26 and a bottom, being open at the sides 'and top. The box is provided with bearings 28 for the shaft which are held in place in spaces in the walls 26 of the boxbymeans of separate plates 29 screwed to the main part of the box on each end. j

In the `nozzle immovab'ly mounted at its center is a bridge or sup ort 30 having two the ends 26 and having non-circular openings centrally located to tightly fit the bearings -28 which have the same shape. When the box is .inserted as a Whole the bridge holds it against wabbling.

The bearings are practically dustproot1 and eliminate a source of very greattrouble in the use of brush carpet sweepers as heretofore made. The two bearings being located so near together and supporting the shaft at the center with its ends free, they can be made accurately and the shaft can it them closely without danger of material vibration and there is no Way 1n which they can pick up threads and lint and wind the same up on the shaft so as to prevent the rotation of the shaft as has been so common in the old machines. The Whole bearing dcvice consists of one box as stated which, when in position on the shaft7 is one piece. Its side Walls it into place in a bridge or lsupport 30 which preferably is cast as a part oi' the nozzle. The nozzle is provided with an opening 31 for the passage of the belt 22.

When the shaft is located in its bearings in the box 25 and the belt applied to the pulley this whole element consisting of the brush, box, pulley and belt can be handled as one piece and put into place in the bridge 30 in a `very simple and convenient way. It is held in place by spring-pressed balls 32 mounted on the box and fitting into depressions 33 in the bridge.- Any desired number of these can be rused but preferably just one on each side wall of the box. Therefore these parts can be simply forced into position and will be held automatically by the spring-pressed balls.

It will be noticed that the brush shaft is reversible so that it can be ut in either end around and this materiall increases the lite of the-brush because the ristles are not al ways used for movement in the same direc tion. For cleaning all that is necessary can be accomplished simply by taking out these parts and leaving the nozzle all ex osed for cleaning and bringing the brush itself out where it can be handled in the most convenient manner. The brush is made by simply applying bristles 34 to the shaft 24. Preferably this is done by making the shaft of a hollow piece of tubing with its ends plugged up and boring holes in the tubing into which to set the bristle tufts.

The nozzle itself is shown of the Wide mouth type and provided with semicircular ends. These ends are made to project out from the elevated main body of the nozzle so as to provide a concave curve 36 at each end to permit of Working near the castors of ,furniturey without injuring the legs of the tables, chairs, etc. There is shown a rubber tube 37 or a solid piece of rubber of circular cross-section contained in a groove 38 extending around the nozzle,

or at least on the front and ends, for protecting the furniture from the action of the metal nozzle. v

4The semi-circular shape of the ends of the nozzle has been mentioned. This semi-circle is drawn from the center at which the bottom or bearing surface of each of a pair of rollers 40 is located inside the nozzle. Each of these rollers is mounted on a pivoted arin or lever 41 swinging about a pivot 42 at the front of the nozzle so that the rollers are lo?.

it will be understood of course that the rollers support the nozzle and always remain on the surface being cleaned. It is the elevation ot' the nozzle that is adjusted 4by this screw. By having these rollers located within the nozzle and at the center of the curve at the end they bear on the carpet between the two edges oi' the nozzle and thus hold the carpet from the nozzle. They revent its being sucked up into the nozz e as a whole and held there which is a fault of some of the brush suction cleaners on the market.- Therefore the difficulty which has sometimes been encountered in separating the carpet from the nozzle is avoided because the rollers accomplish that object themselves.

Between the rollers a similar obect is accomplished by a wire frame 47. T is frame comprises cross bars 48 all preferably formed from a single piece of wire pivoted to the rear edge of the nozzle opening on brackets 49 and resting under corresponding projections 50 on the other edge of the nozzle and over a projection 51 at the center so that -this longitudinal wire can be swung back a little to disengage the wire frame at that side and permit it to be swun lup on its pivots for removal of the brus The longitudinal wire rests on or is soldered to the ends of each pair of bars 48 connected across from one to the other on that side of the frame and holds them down. These wires are convexed for en aging the carpet at points spaced apart to liold it down.

This machine involves a simple method of connecting and disconnecting the power with the brush, located in a convenient position for operation. The brush itself is mounted in the center in'an improved manner so that it can be operated for a long time Without cleaning because there is no tendency for lill) the fibers and threads to wind around the bearings. It is readily and conveniently detachable for cleaning and can be reversed without dilculty, thus adding to its life. The placin of the rollers inside the nozzle and the adjustment in the convenient manner shown is alsoan important improvement. The slots 39 through which the arms 41 pass serve not only for this purpose but also for the purpose of allowing a little air to pass vinto the nozzle at the ends near the rollers to prevent the vacuum from getting too strong and thus holding the nozzle too firmly to the carpet. The wire frame which keeps the carpet separated from the nozzle at intervals is also a very convenient'and simple construction for this purpose.

Although we have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, we are aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person 'skilled in the art without departing from the yscope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described, but what we do claim is 1. In a suction carpet cleaner, the combination with a casing, a brush shaft therein, and a pulley on said shaft at its'center, of a pair of bearings for the shaft on opposite sides of the pulley having a non-circular outline, and a box having ends provided with openings of the same shape and size as said bearings for receiving and supporting them and preventing the passage of dust between them, the box being closed at the bottom and open at the sides, said box shaft and bearings being removable from the carpet cleaner casing as a whole.

2. In a suction carpet cleaner, the combination with a motor casing and a suction nozzle, of a brush in the suction nozzle, a vertical shaft extending down from the motor casing and adapted to be operated therefrom, a pulley loose on said shaft, connections from the pulley for operating the brush, a clutch slidable on the shaft for connecting theepulley with the shaft, a rod mounted un-A der the motor casing oscillatable on its axis and having an eccentric end for operating the cl'utch, a handle on the rod `at the ex- -treme rear of the motor casing, and means on the motor casing for holding the handle in either of the two extreme positions, whereby the rod can be oscillate'd to connect and disconnect the brush with the power.

3. In a suction carpet cleaner, the combination with a motor casing and a suction nozzle, of a brush in t-he suction nozzle, a shaft extending from the motor casing and adapted to be operated therefrom, a pulley loose on said shaft, connections from the pulley for operating the brush, a clutch for connecting the pulley with the shaft, a rod-having an eccentric end for operating the clutch, and a handle on the rod whereby the rod can be oscillated on its axis to connect and diS- connect the brush with the power.

4. In a suction carpet cleaner, the combination with a nozzle having an integral bridge across it and having a central recess therein and side openings, bearings fitting tightly in said openings, and a brush shaft fitting in and supported by said bearings, of a box fitting over and closing said recess and carrying the bearings, said bridge having depressions, and means on the box for entering the depressions to detachably hold the box on the bridge.

5. In a suction carpet cleaner, the combination with a nozzle having two integral vertical walls near the center constitutingan open bottomed bridge across the nozzle near the center thereof, of a box fitting in a dust proof manner on said bridge and having bearings, and a brush having a shaft held in said bearings yand removable downwardly from the bridge with the box.

6. In a suction carpet cleaner, the combination with a nozzle having an open bottomed bridge extending across the nozzle at the center and having a recess therein and side openings, bearings fitting tightly in said openings, and a brush fittin in and Supported by said bearings, of a ox having an open top fitting over said recess and carrying the bearings.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

SVEN MALCOLM BLANCH. FRANK J. QUrsT. 

